steering head bearings

[terrylee]

I'm pretty sure the steering bearings need replaced on 450, but thought I'd at least run it by you guys and make sure it might not be something else. Wife has had problem with what she calls a "squirrelly" feeling in the frt. of the bike, mainly when going around curves at 40-50 mph. I jacked up the frt. wheel and pushed and pulled and maybe just a small amount of play. When the wheel are centered and the handlebars are slightly pushed to left, wheel slowly drops to wheel stop, pushed to the right and wheel doesn't move on it's own, you have to push it by hand. Loosened things up and tightened steering head nut a little and retightened everything else, didn't seem to really make much difference.
The steering bearing are about the only thing I haven't replaced on the bike. Not looking forward to it, but think it needs to be done. terrylee

 

[tkent02]

Sounds like the bearings are too tight, they should fall to the stop both ways. To tight for very long and they will become notchy, this will explain the squirreliness, but it's usually felt more at slower speeds, or when coming to a stop. CAn you feel the notchyness when you turn the bars side to side? It should be completely smooth.

The bearings are not that difficult to replace.

 

[Johno]

Steeering head bearings

Steeering head bearings

I had very similar symtoms with my bike. Bike would pull slightly to the left when entering a right hander.

Steering head bearings were original and never inspected or serviced.

30 years of neglect - amazing how they lasted and functioned so well for so long

Here is my thread:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=173949

 

[bluehwy]

Shimmy in higher speed curves? How are the rear shocks?

 

[Steve]

Although it might feel like the problem is in the front, one of the first places I would check would be swingarm bearings.

.

 

[terrylee]

Thanks for the responses guys. I wasn't sure if should fall freely on both sides or not. I will try both looseing and tightening and see the difference both ways. I replaced the swingarm bearings less than 2 yrs. ago. Not really feeling any notching, just side drops fairly easily and other side won't move unless pushed, which way should it be? Old skool seemed to think it should not falling easily, so maybe need to tighten more? The rear shocks are over 30 yrs. old, have been already looking for new ones. terrylee

 

[tkent02]

The manual for one of the old GS models said the steering should fall to the side and bounce once, only once. Not sure which GS model it was. Both sides should be the same.

 

[terrylee]

Went out last night and checked shocks and the top nut on both sides was about a 1/2-3/4 turn loose. Tightened them and torgued the front wheel axle nut (recently got torque wrench). Going to check the back axle nut and alignment later today, and torgue down all frt. fork bolts, steering bolt, ect., and try loosing and tightened steering stem nut and see what happens. I did order new bearings for it, originial bearings so might as well be sure and put in new ones. Anybody ever make a steering stem nut tool? Punch and hammer not doing it any favors. terrylee

 

[twotimeGSr]

I'm replacing the bearings on my 850 today. I'm lucky to live close to brwinger and he is going to help me. I've been having front end issues too... it wants to "dance" on the road a bit... like it is loose if it is not in a lean.. going around turns is fine and it can keep a good line, but in the straights it has a mind of its own.

 

[terrylee]

wife only seems to notice it very much if at all except in the turns. terrylee

 

[terrylee]

can't get lower race out!

can't get lower race out!

Ok, took everything I had to off bike and tried not to take off anything I didn't have too. Got the tree apart and used tool I bought from someone on here (can't remember who) and got upper race to pop right out. But lower wouldn't come out with the tool and ended up bending tool trying to get it to move. Had to quit for today, fatique getting the best of me! Am thinking of using dermel tool and cutting wheel and carefully see if I can cut almost through the race in a couple of places and then seeing if I can get it to break and pop out. May try that tommorrow and see what happens. Looks like they needed changing, none of them roll when you try to roll each bearing, only the inner race will move, and all the grease was gone! Plan to make my own bearing head nut tool out of a socket so I can torque it to specs. Will search for suggestions on getting lower race out. terrylee

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Others have done it that way. Most problems arise from using to small of a hammer. Need 3-5 lb
that nailing hammer won't work

 

[terrylee]

May have to get one, plan on doing my 850 this winter. terrylee

 

[SVSooke]

Couldn't get the bearing races out of my 78 1000.Popped them out using a Dremel with a cutting wheel as you suggested.

 

[tatu]

Did you check to see that the cables/wires weren't causing the steering to not fall to one side? They could and do cause enough resistance to not allow the steering to flop both sides.
I saw on here somewhere that someone had made a nifty head removing tool by bending a curve into the end'v a good sized gash flat screwdriver. Another way if you have the kit, is to run a bead of weld round the bearing and let it cool, it will plink onto the floor by itself.

 

[terrylee]

Wish I had a welder but I don't. Plan to try the dremel tool tomorrow. terrylee

 

[oldrookie]

I picked up some long pry bars at Harbor Frieght that I believe would be perfect for reaching down through the steering head. Bwringer came over and helped get mine out and he had a very similar tool. Worked great.

I'm coming through Bloomington on my way to a cross country meet in Bedford--have a big hammer too. Coming down 37. Leaving early, since my son races at 9:30, but will be heading back 11:30 or noon. Shoot me a PM if you want me to bring the tools with me.

 

[Thumper88]

Used my MIG welder when I did mine, ran a bead on the lower race and it came out real easy...

 

[terrylee]

Old Rookie, I just saw your reply. Thanks very much for the great offer, but I managed to use the dremel tool and cut two grooves in it and a few taps with chisel into the grooves and piece popped out and the rest came right out. Didn't even mess the head up, except for one small place that I polished smooth with my dremel and a small grinding stone. Even got the bearing off the bottom of tree. If you could post a picture of the tool from Harbor, that would be great, since I have to do mine this winter. terrylee

 

[oldrookie]

Not a problem. Figured I was pretty late in posting.

Here's the link. Brian has taken the handle off his and the angle is just about perfect to catch the lip of the bearing trace.

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-heavy-duty-pry-bar-set-1654.html